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Diagnosed With Stress Fractures Of The Calcaneus And Talus. Will It Be Cured By Forteo Injection?
Question: Dear Doctor,
Hope you are well.
I am 27 and am in the Air Force. My Sports Doctor has certified my Serum Calcium and Alkaline Phosphate levels to be perfectly normal.
I have been diagnosed with stress fractures of the Calcaneum and the Talus.
Would Forteo injection heal my stress fractures? I am very concerned about the side effects. I have three weeks of sick leave before i report again for my next phase of training.
I am very keen on getting back to running and hence am seriously considering taking the Forteo injections. However, the side effects i read about are quite alarming.
Moreover, this drug has not yet been approved for use in sports injuries. Why is this? Would i be taking a risk by using this drug for a purpose it has not been approved for?
I would be taking this drug only for three weeks. What are the chances that my fractures would heal by then and what are the chances of three weeks of injections giving rise to serious side effects later on?
Could you please let me have your valuable comments?
Your kind reply would be highly appreciated as i will have to take a decision in a day's time.
Thanks so much.
Best Regards,
XXXXXXX
Hope you are well.
I am 27 and am in the Air Force. My Sports Doctor has certified my Serum Calcium and Alkaline Phosphate levels to be perfectly normal.
I have been diagnosed with stress fractures of the Calcaneum and the Talus.
Would Forteo injection heal my stress fractures? I am very concerned about the side effects. I have three weeks of sick leave before i report again for my next phase of training.
I am very keen on getting back to running and hence am seriously considering taking the Forteo injections. However, the side effects i read about are quite alarming.
Moreover, this drug has not yet been approved for use in sports injuries. Why is this? Would i be taking a risk by using this drug for a purpose it has not been approved for?
I would be taking this drug only for three weeks. What are the chances that my fractures would heal by then and what are the chances of three weeks of injections giving rise to serious side effects later on?
Could you please let me have your valuable comments?
Your kind reply would be highly appreciated as i will have to take a decision in a day's time.
Thanks so much.
Best Regards,
XXXXXXX
Hi, thanks for using healthcare medicine
Forteo is the brand name for a medication called teriparatide which is generally used for osteoporosis. It is a synthetic form of a hormone called parathyroid and it works by increasing the density of the bone.
Medications are often used for off label reasons- that is the medication has not been approved for a particular effect but is thought to be helpful in that area based on its mode of action
It is also important to remember that although all medication have potential side effects, a person may experience none or a few of the effects listed.
The most serious one listed- when given to rats, they developed a tumor , however the doses used were higher than the ones used for people.
It is normally used for at least 2 yrs, since you will be using it for 3 weeks, it is unlikely that you would experience any significant effects now or later on.
There have been some medical studies using this medication to heal fractures, it just has not been approved for this reason as yet.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Forteo is the brand name for a medication called teriparatide which is generally used for osteoporosis. It is a synthetic form of a hormone called parathyroid and it works by increasing the density of the bone.
Medications are often used for off label reasons- that is the medication has not been approved for a particular effect but is thought to be helpful in that area based on its mode of action
It is also important to remember that although all medication have potential side effects, a person may experience none or a few of the effects listed.
The most serious one listed- when given to rats, they developed a tumor , however the doses used were higher than the ones used for people.
It is normally used for at least 2 yrs, since you will be using it for 3 weeks, it is unlikely that you would experience any significant effects now or later on.
There have been some medical studies using this medication to heal fractures, it just has not been approved for this reason as yet.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thanks very much for your prompt response. Could you also clarify the following?
1) Could you please let me know as to why this drug is not approved for use in treating stress fractures in healthy young adults? Is it because of some heavy risk involved? If yes, what could that be?
2) If i do go ahead and have the injections for three full weeks, what are the chances that i might experience serious side effects a couple of years down the line?
3) Lastly, many websites warn the prospective user to consider this drug only if the benefits potentially outweigh the risks involved - what exactly would a 27 year old healthy adult taking it to treat stress fractures experience during the course of the treatment that would put him at discomfort?
I await your kind reply.
Best Regards,
XXXXXXX
Thanks very much for your prompt response. Could you also clarify the following?
1) Could you please let me know as to why this drug is not approved for use in treating stress fractures in healthy young adults? Is it because of some heavy risk involved? If yes, what could that be?
2) If i do go ahead and have the injections for three full weeks, what are the chances that i might experience serious side effects a couple of years down the line?
3) Lastly, many websites warn the prospective user to consider this drug only if the benefits potentially outweigh the risks involved - what exactly would a 27 year old healthy adult taking it to treat stress fractures experience during the course of the treatment that would put him at discomfort?
I await your kind reply.
Best Regards,
XXXXXXX
Hi
Studies are now being conducted to assess the use in stress fractures, these studies are only now being done and normally a medication is not approved for a specific purpose unless extensive studies have been conducted.
The only extensive studies so far have been with osteoporois ,they now have to look at other areas.
As mentioned, the initial studies have shown some benefit in terms of healing fractures.
Normally for osteoporosis the medication is used for at least 2 yrs with minimal problems. Since you will be using for 3 weeks, a much shorter time period, it would be highly unlikely that you would experience any significant side effects either now or in the future.
Remember you fracture will heal even if you do not use this medication.
Some of the possible benefits may be a shorter healing time.The risks would include nausea,leg cramps,rhinitis and dizziness .Persons with history of pagets disease, prior radiation to the bone, bone cancer and persons still growing should not use it.
If , for you, the risk or idea of experiencing dizziness, nausea,leg cramps is greater than the need for faster healing (because it will heal without it) , then you don't need to use it.
If you don't consider those side effects to be significant and are likely to tolerate them, and your need for healing is greater, then use it.
If you have a history of pagets, radiation, bone tumor- then you can't use it.
If you a still uncomfortable using it, then don't, at 27 you should heal well without it.
Feel free to ask any other questions
Studies are now being conducted to assess the use in stress fractures, these studies are only now being done and normally a medication is not approved for a specific purpose unless extensive studies have been conducted.
The only extensive studies so far have been with osteoporois ,they now have to look at other areas.
As mentioned, the initial studies have shown some benefit in terms of healing fractures.
Normally for osteoporosis the medication is used for at least 2 yrs with minimal problems. Since you will be using for 3 weeks, a much shorter time period, it would be highly unlikely that you would experience any significant side effects either now or in the future.
Remember you fracture will heal even if you do not use this medication.
Some of the possible benefits may be a shorter healing time.The risks would include nausea,leg cramps,rhinitis and dizziness .Persons with history of pagets disease, prior radiation to the bone, bone cancer and persons still growing should not use it.
If , for you, the risk or idea of experiencing dizziness, nausea,leg cramps is greater than the need for faster healing (because it will heal without it) , then you don't need to use it.
If you don't consider those side effects to be significant and are likely to tolerate them, and your need for healing is greater, then use it.
If you have a history of pagets, radiation, bone tumor- then you can't use it.
If you a still uncomfortable using it, then don't, at 27 you should heal well without it.
Feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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